Mandatory seat belt law

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

For both physical and psychological reasons, seatbelts make you a safer driver. Think about it...

Here's a thought from real life...

An over-the-road truck driver once told me about an experience which convinced him to never wear a seatbelt again.

He had an accident in which the truck ended up upside down, with him unable to undo his seatbelt and get out. Meanwhile gasoline, yes gasoline, was dripping on him.

Hope that never happens to you or any of the seatbelt proponents.

Remember, most of them drive gasoline powered vehicles.

A NH state trooper once told me that the worst situation he encountered on the job was listening to two people burn to death, trapped in their vehicle and pleading to him to shoot them. Shooting them would have put him in jail. Interestingly, they shoot horses to end their pain.

[vrrooom]

I had a experience when I was in college. I was riding in a Corvair, yes Ralph I know, the driver lost control on a curve, we ended up upside down in the ditch. No one was injured in the flip, but releasing the seat belts while hanging upside down was encouraged by the knowledge that the gas tank was under the dash and also upside down.

[fatlazyless]

For over 20 years now, federal law has required NH and all 50 state's drivers of gasoline tanker trucks and all CDL-A and B truck drivers to wear seatbelts. Not wearing one is a violation. 20 years is a lot of experience.

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

For over 20 years now, federal law has required NH and all 50 state's drivers of gasoline tanker trucks and all CDL-A and B truck drivers to wear seatbelts. Not wearing one is a violation. 20 years is a lot of experience.

The same could be stated about the speed limit.

Remember the 55 mph Federal speed limit? Another great idea out of Washington...

Does NH still enforce it?

and why not?!

[MJM]

I do not believe wearing a seatbelt makes someone a better driver. If anything, I'm concerned it subconciously increases aggressive driving.

I read somewhere a while back about Target Risk - the theory is that people with protective gear on feel safer, so actually take more risk. The article mentioned SUV drivers, bicylce helmets, seatbelts, etc.

(For the record, I wear my seatbelt 100% of the time, and am against them being mandated by the government.)

[Skip]

Originally Posted by MJM

I do not believe wearing a seatbelt makes someone a better driver. If anything, I'm concerned it subconciously increases aggressive driving.

I read somewhere a while back about Target Risk - the theory is that people with protective gear on feel safer, so actually take more risk. The article mentioned SUV drivers, bicylce helmets, seatbelts, etc.

(For the record, I wear my seatbelt 100% of the time, and am against them being mandated by the government.)

Thanks MJM, you aroused my curiosity on this unique concept which led me to this very interesting website!

The text of his first book can be found here. I climbed in to my truck, snugged up my seatbelt and felt so safe that I read most of his first few chapters while driving home from work this afternoon!

Seriously, a very interesting read so far!

[rander7823]

Originally Posted by GWC...

A NH state trooper once told me that the worst situation he encountered on the job was listening to two people burn to death, trapped in their vehicle and pleading to him to shoot them. Shooting them would have put him in jail. Interestingly, they shoot horses to end their pain.

Both of their seatbelts malfunctioned? There had to be a lot more than just seatbelts keeping those people in the car. Maybe the doors?

[fatlazyless]

Let's see, every individual is going to think what they want to think.....it's their brain. Ok....for me....when I click the seatbelt closed it reinforces the seriousness of driver safety.
If you are required to wear a seatbelt it must be a potentially dangerous situation. So, I think to myself that driving is no-joke and you need to follow the rules. Besides, you don't really get anywhere faster by speeding what with stoplights, traffic and speeding tickets.
Just like bald tires or worn-down brake pads/shoes, driving unbelted should be an equipment violation that comes with a fine and insurance points......(ouch!). Driving is a licensed privilege!

[Gatto Nero]

I don't like the idea of a nanny state any more than anybody else, and if I had the option I wouldn't vote in favor of this law, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to fight this particular inconvenience. I ride a motorcycle and as stupid as I know it is not to wear a helmet I usually don't. However, I think some good things could come out of this particular law. At least the MA version of it did for me. As a kid growing up I never used a seatbelt. I don't think I started wearing them until they became mandatory in MA. Probably because of that law, I made certain that my kids had theirs on every time they got in. Whenever they would forget I would always remind them that it was the law. Now in their teens, they always put it on whether I'm there to bug them or not.

Recently my oldest daughter and two of her friends were involved in very serious accident in which the car rolled end over end two or three times. Everyone in the car walked away. All three, and several witnesses, know in their heart that they would not have survived had they not been wearing their seat belts. Now I know its not the law that caused her to put a belt on that day; it probably had more to do with my wife and I drilling it into her head for the past 18 years, but as I think back it was probably the law that helped us do the drilling when it mattered.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Let's see, every individual is going to think what they want to think.....it's their brain. Ok....for me....when I click the seatbelt closed it reinforces the seriousness of driver safety.
If you are required to wear a seatbelt it must be a potentially dangerous situation. So, I think to myself that driving is no-joke and you need to follow the rules. Besides, you don't really get anywhere faster by speeding what with stoplights, traffic and speeding tickets.
Just like bald tires or worn-down brake pads/shoes, driving unbelted should be an equipment violation that comes with a fine and insurance points......(ouch!). Driving is a licensed privilege!

Well then "we" have done a truely bad job at driver education (yeah I know, no surprise there) if that's what makes you serious about driving. I used to say that the people turned their brains off when they turned the key on but now I just wonder if "they" ever think at all. I'd say that making people buckle up isn't going to change the mental outlook or driving habits of the vaaaast majority. It's simply a DC beaurocrat's job to reduce traffic injuroes and fatalities and this is his way to answer his boss. NH falls in line because their Fed Highway Funds get threathened and nobody in charge much cares about what "the people" think.

Frankly I think you're stupid if you don't wear your belt but I'd just as quickly say it's a personal choice and no place for Gov't regulation. It's not that this law is so onerous but that it sets another bad precedent, that will be cited in the future, to regulate personal choices not because they materially affect other's rights but because it's "the right thing to do".

As for driving being a privilege ... well there's not much that isn't if I follow your logic. Let's see, I need a license to get married. Does that mean the Gov't can now tell me what I can and can't do with my wife because they think "it's the right thing to do" and "for my own good" ? We grant Gov't limited powers to accomplish what we need it to do. When Gov't starts to use those powers for other than what's needed then it's abusing those powers granted it. The seatbelt law is a small case of abuse, trying to accomplish a good goal but by bad means. It's not the Gov'ts job to protect me from myself.